Mother And Six Children Killed In Central Pennsylvania House Explosion And Fire

A mother and her six children were killed when their central Pennsylvania home exploded and caught fire early Wednesday, state police said.

Pennsylvania State Police identified the mother as 34-year-old Sarah Stolzfus and said all six children died in the blast and ensuing fire. The children included four sons, ages 11, 10, 5 and 3, and two daughters, ages 8 and 6. Police said a propane leak inside the home may have caused the explosion, while noting exterior propane tanks did not explode and were not contributing factors.

A neighbor, Christina Duck, said she heard a boom, felt it and saw flames through the windows as the house became engulfed within about a minute. Duck said the family had moved in only a couple of months earlier and that the children were often seen playing outside.

Initial social posts and local news alerts reported the deaths and explosion but included few details. Subsequent reporting by ABC News and state police provided the mother's name, the children's ages and the possible propane-leak cause, clarifying that external tanks were not to blame. The story spread widely on social media, where neighbors and community members expressed shock and grief and called for support for the family and investigation into safety practices.